A SERIES OF WALKS IN THE
TAMAR VALLEY
GUIDE NO 4
Easy Going
Cotehele Estate
3 miles
Published by Calstock Footpath Society 2014
Updated Aug 2018
Supported by Calstock Parish Council,
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership,
The Queen’s Head, Tamar Inn, Boot Inn, White Hart,
Buccaneer, Cornish Inn, Tavistock Arms Hotel, Louis
Tea Rooms, Premier Stores, Carpenter’s Arms,
Sandhill House and Andrew Brown.
The Calstock Footpath Society is engaged in
monitoring and caring for the paths throughout
the villages and hamlets in the Parish that are
used by the local community and visitors to the
area.
Membership is open to all. £6 per annum, which
includes all Society walks.
Visit http://cfs.btck.co.uk
To obtain more guides:
Email [email protected]
Title: Easy Going: Cotehele Estate
Distance: 3 miles.
Gradient: Fairly level. No steep gradients
Level of difficulty: Easy
Type of paths: Quiet roads, woodland and field paths
Suggested map: OS Explorer 108
Start/finish grid ref: GPS: N50° 29’ 26.81”
W4° 13’ 27.20”
(SX 423 682)
Suitability for dogs: on leads only
Parking: Cotehele Quay (£3 50 or free to NT
members)
Refreshments and public toilets: Cotehele Quay
footpath sign. Take this path with the field
hedge on your left. This land is part of the
Cotehele estate which has many tenanted
farms. Continue on with distant views of
Calstock Church and the triangular tower
(folly) on the estate built to commemorate
the visit of George the Third and his
Queen. In the second field continue on the
same line, then drop down (carefully) to a
kissing gate behind a small pylon (5) and
turn right into the woods - still on the
estate. Follow main track on the right with
winter views on left to the Tamar, Calstock
village and viaduct. Where track bends
sharply to the right to the gate, take the
footpath to the left,
With care, descend to main track, turn
right, bearing left for the Quay. Pass the
Calstock viewing point (6) and back to the
start point via the little chapel with its
story of the Great Escape. Cream tea as a
perfect end perhaps? Remember the
Everyone likes a challenge but this walk is
perfect for those who just want to stretch
their legs for an hour or so and enjoy the
wonderful benefits that the Cotehele
Estate (National Trust) has to offer.
Starting and ending at Cotehele Quay,
refreshment is available at the Edgcumbe
before and after the walk. Car parking is
free to NT Members and a £3-50p for
others.
Leave Cotehele Quay (1) following signs to
the Mill and if time a visit to the Discovery
Centre will tell you more about the Cotehele
Quay and local history. Turn left on tarmac
road and follow it
towards woods ahead -
do not cross the bridge
which is not as old as it
looks! With the
Morden stream on your
left follow the wide
track; a left fork takes
you to Cotehele working watermill
with its numerous workshops and
displays and a recently installed
hydro-electric system. Go in
June and you may find in the mill
meadow the rare Southern
Marsh Orchid. Fork right and
follow the main path. After 50 yards
take a left fork to the tumbling waters of
the Weir (2), a place that few visitors to
Cotehele find. Tucked away in the corner
is the small sluice gate that allows water from
the weir pool to feed the leat that powers the
mill wheel.
Continue up a
slight rise into
Newhouses and
take the lane
i m m e d i a t e l y
opposite for
100 yards. Turn
right at first wooden
5-bar gate onto a
rough track, ignoring
the public footpath
sign a little further
on. You are now
entering Comfort
Wood (3) which has been cleared of
thickly planted conifers introduced after
World War 2 allowing natural growth and a
rich habitat
for wildlife.
Follow this
track ahead
fork to the
right before
reaching a
gate to a
permissive path across private land. Bear
half right across a field through an avenue
of recently planted cherry trees to a
gate on the far side. You are in the
small hamlet of Newton (4).
Turn left into the lane, bear right and
proceed to a T junction, then turn
right to reach a second T junction.
Immediately opposite is a public